Summary Bearskin Flight 359, a Beech99, C-GHVI, serial numberU153, with two pilots and three passengers on board was departing Pikangikum, Ontario, at 1838 central standard time on a night visual flight rules flight to Poplar Hill. The captain, who was the pilot flying (PF) and sitting in the right-hand seat, completed a normal take-off. The flight took off from Runway27, over a lake. About 400feet above ground level, the PF began a climbing right turn en route. During the turn, the PF had difficulty seeing the artificial horizon and concentrated on the aircraft's bank angle. The first officer called that the aircraft was in a 2000-feet-per-minute descent and took control. The aircraft struck the frozen surface of the lake, bounced, and became airborne again. The first officer retained control, and the captain attempted to feather the damaged right propeller. The first officer, believing that both propellers had sustained damage, force-landed the aircraft on the lake surface. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. No one was injured. Ce rapport est galement disponible en franais. Other Factual Information During a series of scheduled flights operating to small communities in the area of Red Lake, Ontario, by Bearskin Lake Air Service, the first officer became ill. To complete the schedule, a relief pilot was flown to Red Lake as a replacement. On arrival, the relief pilot became the aircraft captain, based on seniority within the company. The original captain, who was now to act as the first officer, had flown the first series of scheduled flights in the left seat, and the cockpit was configured to accommodate him. When the new captain arrived, it was convenient for the new captain to fly from the right seat. The Bearskin Lake Air Service Operations Manual permits a left-seat qualified pilot who receives annual right-seat training to operate the aircraft from the right seat. The captain had never received right-seat training as a captain with the company. The captain and the first officer both held valid airline transport pilot licences. Records indicate that their pilot proficiency checks and required training were current. The captain had accumulated about 4800hours of flight time in nine years of flying and had been a Beech99 aircraft captain for two years. The first officer had been flying for eight years and had about 4200hours of flight time. The first officer had also been a Beech99 aircraft captain for two years. After the crew change, Flight359 continued to Pikangikum in night visual meteorological conditions. During the flight, the first officer, the pilot flying (PF) for this flight, adjusted the cockpit instrument lighting for both crew members. The captain, the non-flying pilot, found the lighting selection too bright and re-adjusted the instrument lighting on the right side of the cockpit to a lower setting. Flight359 landed at Pikangikum, and passengers and baggage were offloaded. Three passengers and baggage were loaded for the flight to Poplar Hill. During this time, the crew were working in the brightly lit area of the ramp. After the aircraft was loaded, the crew took their positions, with the captain, the PF for the departure from Pikangikum, in the right seat. The PF did not change the lighting selection on the right side of the cockpit from the selections made during the flight into Pikangikum. The PF taxied to the runway, executed a normal take-off, and established the aircraft in a climb at 1500 feet per minute. After the first officer called positive rate, the PF called for the landing gear to be selected up. Approximately 15seconds after take-off, the first officer made the required 400-foot call. The PF called for flaps up and, after the first officer confirmed that flaps were selected, called for climb power and the after-take-off checks. The first officer acknowledged, and the captain indicated starting a turn toward Poplar Hill. The first officer was setting climb power as the PF started the turn. The PF intended to establish the aircraft in a bank angle of 20 to 25. However, the PF was unable to see the artificial horizon clearly. Although the aircraft was banked to one of the marks on the artificial horizon, the PF was uncertain of the bank angle that was reached. The PF concentrated on the artificial horizon, even leaning forward trying to identify the bank angle displayed. The PF was completing the roll-out of the turn when the first officer told the PF that the aircraft was descending at 2000feet per minute. The PF pulled back on the control column. When the first officer saw the frozen surface of the lake approaching rapidly (visible because one landing light was still on), the first officer also grasped the control column and pulled back. However, the combined effort of both pilots did not prevent the aircraft from striking the frozen surface of the lake. The aircraft struck the frozen surface in a wings-level attitude with the landing gear retracted and bounced .airborne. The aircraft was equipped with a belly pod, which absorbed a large amount of the impact forces during landing. The frozen surface of the lake was covered with a layer of snow about two feet deep, which also reduced the force of the impact. The captain noted that the right propeller was slowing and attempted to feather it. The crew agreed that the best option was to land immediately on the frozen surface, and the first officer completed a forced landing about 1.5nautical miles from the departure end of Runway27. The aircraft slid to a stop in about 300feet on the frozen, snow-covered surface. The crew used the aircraft radios to contact company staff at the airstrip, and the passengers and the crew were transported to the terminal in a short period of time. The aircraft was examined at the accident site. Damage was confined to the engines and the propellers and to the underside of the fuselage, wings, and flaps. Inspection of the airframe, flight controls, and engines revealed no pre-impact anomalies. The flaps were found in the take-off position, and the landing gear was retracted. The starboard wing fuel system had leaked, and the starboard inboard tank had drained. There was no internal damage in the cockpit or the cabin. The flight instruments from both sides of the instrument panel were removed and tested. No unserviceablities were found. The aircraft was equipped with a digital cockpit voice recorder, which was played at the TSB Engineering Laboratory. The cockpit voice recorder had recorded the cockpit conversations for approximately two hours before aircraft power was turned off shortly after the accident. The aircraft was subsequently raised by company maintenance staff to allow the landing gear to be lowered, and the aircraft was then towed to the airstrip. About three weeks after the accident, after repairs and re-installation of the flight instrumentation, the aircraft was ferried out. The aircraft's weight and balance at the time of the accident were calculated and found within limits. Canadian Aviation Regulation602.115 outlines the requirements for night visual flight rules (VFR) flight in uncontrolled areas: No person shall operate an aircraft in VFR flight within uncontrolled airspace unless: during the day, flight visibility is not less than one mile, during the night, flight visibility is not less than three miles, and... during the day, flight visibility is not less than one mile, during the night, flight visibility is not less than three miles, and... The 1824 central standard time1 special weather report for RedLake, 46nautical miles south of Pikangikum, was as follows: wind 210 at 15gusting to 25knots; visibility 12 statute miles in light snow and drifting snow; ceiling 2500feet broken; and temperature -15C. The weather at Pikangikum was reportedly similar. The moon was in the last phase of waning, and there was no moonlight; it was a very dark night.